Under pressure
OPINION: On top of the rural banking inquiry, several as-yet-unnamed banks are facing a complaint to the Financial Markets Authority over their role in a government bond sale.
OPINION: If ever there was a need to look at rural bank lending, then this is it.
Federated Farmers' 30-page submission to the primary production select comittee last week makes a compelling case for an immediate independent inquiry into rural bank lending. There's clearly disparity between rural and urban bank lending practices.
What's shocking is that changes made to Reserve Bank (RBNZ) rules would cost farmers even more than He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), the abandoned primary industry partnership to reduce emissions.
Feds refer to a briefing to the previous Minister of Finance where it is noted banks claimed the changes to RBNZ rules would result in a 0.5% and 1.2% increase in interest rates. To put a 0.5% to 1.2% increase in rural lending costs in context, with total rural lending of approximately $62 billion, this equates to an additional cost of $310 million to $720 million per annum of interest costs. HWEN policy was forecast to levy $220 to $290 million from the sector by 2030.
Rising interest rates combined with high inflation are putting many farmers under huge financial pressure. Some are even being forced out of the industry.
The primary production select committee is investigating rural banking. While this is a good start, what farmers need is a full-scale inquiry undertaken by MPs.
A survey the Feds did of farmers in May this year found farmer satisfaction with their banks was at an all-time low, and the number of farmers reporting they had come under undue pressure from their bank is at an all-time high.
The Commerce Commission has begun a market study on personal banking. Frustratingly, however, rural lending is outside the scope of the Commission study.
It's time for politicians to give rural businesses and rural families some certainty about the fairness of the interest rates they're paying and the services that they're getting.
An independent rural banking inquiry is the way to go.
The real winner of this year’s FMG Young Farmer Region-off have been the regional communities.
As calving approaches, farmers need to get their teams ready for what lies ahead in the coming months.
Feeling sluggish this winter? Then try some seasonal fruit, renowned for lifting mood, energy and immunity levels just when we need it most.
The missing link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Massey University are joining forces to help raise awareness and funds to combat leptospirosis.
Auckland-based supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.
OPINION: In 2021 a group of prominent academics got ’cancelled’ for daring to oppose changes to the school curriculum that…
OPINION: On top of the rural banking inquiry, several as-yet-unnamed banks are facing a complaint to the Financial Markets Authority…